South Korean female weightlifter Jang Mi-ran (C) poses for the camera after winning gold medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, on Nov. 19. (Yonhap)

Jang lifted 311 kilograms of weight on Friday, getting off her back a huge monkey that probably weighed even more. In a career that includes four world championships and an Olympic gold medal, this was the first Asian Games gold for Jang. She has now completed the weightlifting equivalent of a "grand slam" as champion in the Summer Olympics, world championships and Asian Games.

But Jang outdueled both in clean and jerk, her usual forte. She lifted 175kg in the first of her three attempts and then 181kg in her second, reaching 311kg in total.

Grabovetskaya only had 155 in clean and jerk. Meng succeeded in 176kg in her second attempt to pull to a tie with Jang.

But the Meng weighed about 1 kg heavier than the Jang, meaning if they had the same total weight after snatch and clean and jerk, then Jang would be declared the winner under weightlifting's tie-breaking rule.

Meng signed up for 182kg in her final attempt but failed, handing Jang the elusive gold.

At this year's world championship in September, Meng beat Jang by 1 kg for silver. But it was the South Korean's turn Friday.

"I was nervous during the snatch and made some mistakes, but during clean and jerk, I tried to forget about those mistakes and got settled down," Jang said. "I tried not to miss my chances and stay focused."

Jang had a minor auto accident in January when a van rear-ended her sedan, and she has since been dealing with nagging back and shoulder pains.

She said Friday she was still hurting but her adrenaline rush during the competition made her forget about the pain.

"Now that it's all over, I am aching all over the place," Jang said. "I haven't been able to prepare the way I wanted. After I clinched the gold, I had tears in my eyes."

Jang, 27, said this was an important event for her for more than just the gold.

"I was able to pull it off at less than 100 percent," she said. "It has given me huge confidence and motivation as I get ready for the 2012 London Olympics."

South Korea extended its fencing dominance. World champion Nam Hyun-hee won the women's individual foil and Gu Bon-gil grabbed the men's individual sabre.

South Korea has so far scooped up all four gold medals up for grabs in fencing after two days of competition.

For Nam, the Olympic silver medalist in 2008, this was her second straight Asian Games title.

Taekwondo fighters also grabbed two more golds for South Korea. Lee Dae-hoon won the men's under-63kg title and Noh Eun-sil was the women's under-62kg champion.

After three days of taekwondo, the Korean martial art, South Korea has four golds.

South Korea advanced to the semifinals of men's football with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. But the much-anticipated inter-Korean showdown won't materialize after North Korea was eliminated from the quarters Friday.